Analyzing Sociodemographic Factors Influencing Citizen Participation: The Case of Infrastructure Planning in Khon Kaen, Thailand

Abstract

While public participation (PP) is a legal requirement for mega projects in most countries, some PP processes are perceived as the ceremonial fulfilment of obligations without the adequate involvement of citizens. However, limited empirical studies have explored the individual factors of PP in infrastructural development. To bridge this knowledge gap, this study investigated the sociodemographic factors influencing citizen participation in the light rail transit (LRT) project in Khon Kaen, Thailand by using sequential mixed methods to quantify and gain an in-depth understanding of citizen participation. Proportionate stratified random sampling was employed to select 505 respondents for the survey with a semi-structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were applied to elaborate the respondents’ participation level (non-participation, tokenism, and citizen power), while multinomial logistic regression (MLR) was used to analyze seven sociodemographic attributes potentially associated with the participation categories. The results showed that the majority (67%) of the respondents participated at the medium level of participation (tokenism). The MLR analysis revealed that residential location, age, occupation, and income had significant effects on the likelihood of participation at a high (citizen power) level. Meanwhile, age and occupation had significant effects on medium participation behavior (tokenism). The findings shed light on how PP can potentially be enhanced through sociodemographic targeting when designing citizen involvement in infrastructure planning.